Queensland Coal Watch

Billionaire mining companies like BHP, Glencore, and Jellinbah want to dig up more than 5 billion tonnes more coal from Queensland - threatening precious groundwater, farmland and our climate.

28

proposed expansions

5571000000

more tonnes of coal to be mined

14300000000

more tonnes of climate pollution

10614

hectares of koala habitat at risk

3700000000000

litres of water consumed

Regional communities are standing up and saying no to this destruction - will you support them?

Queensland can’t meet climate goals, and neither can Australia or the globe, if these mines go ahead. The Qld Premier and his Ministers can take action to ensure these projects do not go ahead.

10,614 hectares of koala habitat are at risk if these projects are approved by the federal government. That’s just over 106 square kms, over 8,845 Suncorp stadium sized sporting fields, or over 70 times the size of Brisbane's CBD.

Email the Premier, Environment Minister, and your local MP

Send an email to reject coal expansions

Interactive map of proposed coal expansions

See how much area is threatened. Map by Lock The Gate

There are 28 expansions proposed in Queensland, on top of the 56 already approved or operating. These are just 13 of the biggest, baddest, and most damaging.

Coal Watch is a collaboration between Queensland Conservation Council and Lock the Gate

The biggest expansions

Dangerous operators

Hurting farmland

Lake Vermont Meadowbrook Project

Bowen Basin Coal

348 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2061

Both the State and Federal governments have approved this extension, so QCC is challenging this decision in the Queensland Land Court. 

Bowen Basin Coal is a subsidiary of Jellinbah, which is owned by one of Australia’s richest men, Sam Chong worth $2 billion. His son Paul is a director who has said he does not believe in climate change.

Winchester South

Whitehaven

607 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2051

One of the biggest new greenfield coal mines in the world.

Winchester South will clear 570 hectares or 300 Gabba-sized sporting fields worth of remnant native vegetation, including important habitat for endangered koalas.

Baralaba South

ACMI

99 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2052

Opposed by local farmers and Traditional Owners due to risk of depleting water, destroying farmland and potentially permanently contaminating drinking water for local communities.

Blackwater South

Whitehaven

640 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to the year 2119

Blackwater South would clear over 6500 hectares of koala habitat, more than 3,200 MCG sized football fields.

Blackwater North

Whitehaven

200 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2085

Blackwater North coal mine would destroy important habitat for threatened species.

Kestrel West

EMR / Adaro

324 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2050

Kestrel is one of the world’s largest underground coal mines situated in Qld's Central Highlands agricultural area.

The expansion plan to clear 4,330 hectares.

The expansion has been made financially viable by a $37million taxpayer funded handout from the Albanese Government.

Caval Ridge

BHP and Mitsubishi (BMA)

483 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2056

This expansion will extend the footprint of the mine by hundreds of hectares of threatened species habitat. Mine water would also impact critical turtle habitat.

Hail Creek

Glencore

Hail Creek Open Cut coal mine is one of the most polluting methane emitting mines on the planet. It is estimated to emit 20% of Australia’s methane emissions from coal mining, while accounting for just 1% of Australian coal production.

The extension edges dangerously close to Widi cultural water sites.

It will clear 600ha of habitat for koala and other threatened species.

Gemini mine

Magnetic South

63 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2043

Threatens farmland and important habitat for endangered wallabies, koalas and greater gliders, near the sacred Blackdown Tablelands National Park.

Saraji East & Saraji Grevillea

BHP & Mitsubishi (BMA)

At least 302 million tonnes of pollution (no estimate for Grevillea)

Polluting to 2045 and 2055 respectively

1160 ha of koala habitat, equivalent to over 500 MCG sized football fields. 748 hectares of habitat for the greater glider.

BMA's surveys recorded 18 greater gliders within and directly adjacent to the project disturbance footprint.

Rolleston

Glencore

82 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2040

Glencore breached rehabilitation requirements and is hoping to avoid proper rehabilitation by extending its mine, clearing precious koala habitat in the process.

Ensham

Sunjela

37 million tonnes of pollution

Polluting to 2037

The Queensland Land Court recommended rejecting the Ensham coal expansion due to significant climate pollution.

The expansion overlaps with cropping land in Queensland’s central highlands farming region.

Peak Downs

BHP and Mitsubishi

3 billion tonnes of pollution

Polluting for 93 years to 2116

The biggest single coal expansion in Australia which would clear 2,108 hectares of koala habitat.

The project will also divert local creeks and draw down regional groundwater sources, and shows that BHP's climate transition plan is total greenwash.